Wallstedt trade – Jesper Wallstedt addressed trade speculation after a standout rookie run with the Minnesota Wild, including a six-game playoff win over Dallas and a five-game second-round loss to Colorado.
When the Minnesota Wild decided to roll with Jesper Wallstedt in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was a vote of confidence after a season that made his name impossible to ignore. The gamble paid off early, helping Minnesota beat the Dallas Stars in a six-game Western Conference Quarterfinal series.
But the tone shifted quickly once the Wild opened their second-round matchup with the Colorado Avalanche.. Wallstedt allowed eight goals in Minnesota’s roller-coaster Game 1 loss, and he was replaced by Filip Gustavsson for Game 2.. Wallstedt returned to the net for the rest of the series beginning with Game 3. including a Wild win in that game.. Still, Colorado proved too strong, defeating Minnesota in five games.
On Friday, during the team’s locker-room cleanout day, Wallstedt spoke to media members and directly touched the lingering question hanging over his future. “I don’t think you’re ever safe, but I hope I made a good impression,” Wallstedt said via Michael Russo on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Wild selected Wallstedt in the opening round of the 2021 NHL Draft, taking him 20th overall. He spent last season with the AHL affiliate Iowa Wild before earning a full-time roster spot this past fall in training camp.
That rookie season in the NHL came with strong numbers: Wallstedt posted an 18-9-6 record. a 2.61 goals-against average. a .916 save percentage. and four shutouts during the 2025-26 campaign.. He’s also under contract for one more year with a salary cap hit of $2.2 million. and could become a restricted free agent next summer.
For Minnesota, the postseason run ended sooner than hoped. For Wallstedt, the final word of the season wasn’t about what happened between the pipes—it was about what could come next.
Jesper Wallstedt Minnesota Wild Dallas Stars Colorado Avalanche NHL playoffs trade rumors Filip Gustavsson restricted free agent Iowa Wild